The GC100, the collective voice of general counsel and company secretaries across the FTSE 100, has updated its guidance on virtual shareholder meetings. As a business that has supported over 1,000 virtual meetings across the world in 2025, we welcome this much-needed guidance. Ahead of the 2026 AGM Season, we consider the eight provisions, what they mean, how you can implement them and what Computershare can do to help.
Read the full GC100 Guidance on virtual AGM meetings
What does the virtual AGM meeting guidance cover?
The eight provisions cover the full scope of the virtual meeting, from the information made available to shareholders, through to how questions are managed and answered on the day. They set a clear expectation that companies using virtual formats must invest in the same care in shareholder participation as they would do in a physical setting, and that technology must be an enabler of that commitment.
Provision 1: Promote engagement, dialogue and transparency throughout the virtual AGM
The first provision is the foundational principle. It states that the shift to virtual should never be used as a mechanism to reduce accountability but rather promote engagement, dialogue and transparency. At Computershare, we believe that technology can enhance shareholder engagement. Our platform enables live Q&A, live chat and moderated question submission, often giving remote shareholders more structured and accessible routes into the meeting than they might have had sitting in the room.
Provision 2: Maintain up-to-date information on your website
Shareholders must have an accessible area of your website that covers how to access and participate in the meeting. Information in this area must be current and changed to reflect any changes to format or logistics. Our virtual meeting solutions include dedicated shareholder-facing portals that companies can update in real-time, ensuring that no shareholder tries to enter a meeting with outdated instructions. Plain language must be used to avoid friction before the meeting starts.
Provision 3: The Notice of Meeting must include access details, login instructions, voting guidance and a link to further information
The Notice of Meeting is the best place to include clear communications about the meeting. We strongly recommend that companies include technical requirements (such as browser and device compatibility), step-by-step login instructions and a direct link to further information with every Notice. Our team of experts work with issuers to ensure this information is drafted in plain language and is embedded within all shareholder-facing documentation, from proxy forms to shareholder circulars. Our Notice of Meeting templates can help you be compliant to provide peace of mind.
Provision 4: Documents required to be displayed during the meeting should be accessible via a shareholder information page
Company law requires certain documents to be available to the meeting. In a virtual setting, that obligation can be met by making documents accessible through the company’s website, or through the virtual meeting platform. Our technology enables companies to permit those attending to see relevant documents and also restrict certain documents to only be accessed by authenticated shareholders and investors during participation.
Provision 5: Directors attending the meeting should be visible and audible when asking or answering questions
Shareholders want to see who they are speaking to. If they can’t, then an answer about executive remuneration or company strategy does not carry the same weight. We strongly encourage all clients to use live video for board members during the meeting, not just during Q&A. It’s best practice to have the chair on video during the entire meeting. Our solution is built to support multi-participant live video, and our pre-meeting rehearsal process ensures that the technology works seamlessly when it matters most.
Provision 6: Shareholders should be able to ask questions verbally, either by phone line or Voice over Internet Protocol in addition to typed Q&A
Written Q&A is efficient, but asking questions verbally gives shareholders the ability to add tone, emphasis and the sense of genuine exchange. When possible, verbal participation should be offered as an option. Our solution enables shareholders to join direct from their browser, rather than being reliant on third party technology. We also support multiple participation modes, including video call or audio only, so shareholders can choose the method that suits them. The chair retains the ability to manage the line and ensure orderly conduct throughout.
Provision 7: At the start of the meeting, the chair should explain how questions will be managed, and if grouped, shareholders must have the opportunity to follow up
It’s crucial to be transparent about the process as well as the content. Shareholders who do not understand why their question has been merged with others will lose confidence in the process. Computershare works with chairs and governance teams in the run-up to the meeting to plan question management clearly, advising on how to communicate grouping decisions with confidence and fairness, and how to structure follow-up opportunities.
Provision 8: All shareholders attending should be able to see or hear questions put at the meeting, along with the responses
All attending shareholders should be able to follow the full Q&A, creating a shared meeting experience regardless of how or where they are connecting. Our meeting technology displays questions and responses in real time, with the ability to attribute them to named shareholders where appropriate and agreed. When companies commit to publishing answers to questions after the meeting, our tools support that follow up.
How virtual meetings can improve accessibility and improve shareholder dialogue
The eight provisions reaffirm what shareholder meetings should encourage, including accessibility, openness and genuine dialogue. At Computershare, we have built our virtual and hybrid solutions around these values. From platform design and shareholder communications, through to board rehearsal, contingency planning and post-meeting follow-up, we are here to help governance teams comply with these provisions.
If you’re planning your AGM season and want to understand how our expertise can help, get in touch below to learn more.
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